“Not only have these schools met the rigorous criteria to be a School of Excellence,” said George Giuliani, executive director of NASET, “but the schools selected have also shown they hold themselves to a very high standard of excellence.”

Stillwater Academy principal Marilyn Prettyman said, “It’s personally rewarding to know the school is doing an excellent job with its students. Our teachers care about and understand the kids who come here, and this award just verifies it.”

For years Stillwater Academy has been helping troubled teens get back on track with school and regain a love of learning through small class sizes, caring teachers, and student responsibility to complete schoolwork.

“Our structure helps support the students in their learning,” said Prettyman. “We keep very close track of them, and if they start to slip in their grades, we put things into place to give them the support they need, whether that is tutors, extra study time, or peer help.”

Stillwater Academy is a member of NASET, a professional organization that provides support to special education teachers.

For more information on Stillwater Academy, please contact Marilyn Prettyman or visit www.turnaboutteens.org.

“Once our students realize what it takes to be successful in school,” said Marilyn Prettyman, Stillwater Academy principal, “their futures change. They begin to see they can graduate from high school, and even more, they can go on to college or some other form of training.”

Started nearly ten years ago, Stillwater Academy helps troubled teens get back on track with school and come to love learning again.

“I would have never expected to get good grades like the ones I am getting right now,” said one young man. “Instead of an uncertain future for myself, I have a bright and hopeful future.”

Small class sizes, caring teachers, and an emphasis on student responsibility to complete schoolwork are integral parts of Stillwater Academy. The school also offers a summer program to give students a chance to earn some of the credits they need.

“I have learned how to be responsible for the work I do,” said another student, “and how to be dependable on the things I am assigned. I have learned how to work hard and push myself to do better. I have learned what I want in my future for my schooling and career.

Stillwater Academy’s 2008 graduation will be held Tuesday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sandra Lloyd Performing Arts Center located at 13280 S Redwood Rd in Riverton.

For more information on graduation or Stillwater Academy, please contact Marilyn Prettyman or visit www.turnaboutteens.org.

“Through our combined efforts, Turnabout’s graduating students and families will be more prepared for the real-world and will have higher levels of success than ever before,” said Dr. Tim Thayne, founder and CEO of Homeward Bound. “While Turnabout has always been conscientious about how they help parents, this integrated program shows their full commitment to the process of aftercare.”

As part of the new aftercare services, every family who comes to Turnabout will be given a Turnabout therapist and a Homeward Bound transition specialist, who work together to prepare teens and their families for the return home. The transition specialist educates parents on the transition process, assists them in making a transition plan, and provides them with vital support after their teen’s graduation. Families will also have access to the Family Bridge, Homeward Bound’s internet based program used for coordination and communication between the family, the family support team, their Turnabout therapist, and their transition specialist.

“Turnabout has always approached treatment with this end in mind—we want families to be successful after the program,” said Scott Jones, program director at Turnabout. “Homeward Bound gives us more tools and experts to do just that, and I believe other treatment programs and professionals will look to our joint model as an example of what is possible in the field.”

For more information on Turnabout and its partnership with Homeward Bound, contact Turnabout’s program director Scott Jones.

“The building blocks for a successful, interpersonal relationship are universal,” said Lee Caldwell, director of Turnabout and a horse trainer. “Whether it’s building a relationship with a young horse or building a relationship with students in a classroom, the same core principles apply.”

School leaders aren’t the only ones who benefit from Turnabout’s round pen demonstrations. Each month, the treatment program hosts a round pen for parents, students, church groups, business groups, or other treatment centers. In this unique setting, horse trainers teach the importance of trust and consistency in relationships, effective problem-solving, non-threatening conflict resolution, and building confidence.

“Those who attend a round pen see the application of these principles right before their eyes,” said Caldwell. “They have the opportunity to view things from a different perspective when their watching a round pen.”

For more information on Turnabout and other round pen events, contact Lee Caldwell or visit www.turnaboutteens.org .